UDM files hate speech complaint against Ngizwe Mchunu over homophobic remarks
UDM has filed a formal complaint against Ngizwe Mchunu, accusing him of hate speech after a viral video in which he launched a homophobic attack on a gay couple went public.
Image: File
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has formally lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) against media personality Ngizwe Mchunu, accusing him of hate speech and incitement to violence following a controversial video targeting the LGBTQIA+ community.
Mchunu, known for his TikTok platform, Ngizwe Mchunu Online, posted a video widely condemned for its inflammatory remarks.
The UDM described the comments as a “deliberate, calculated expression of discrimination” and “no less than incitement.” Though the video has since been deleted, it had already amassed over one million views, sparking hundreds of comments calling for violence against queer South Africans.
IOL reported that the uproar was sparked after photos of a gay couple getting married in traditional attire went viral.
The 44-year-old Mchunu made derogatory remarks in response, saying, "A man who sleeps with another man? That is incredibly shameful. This is the root of societal troubles. And that mgodoyi (dog) Somizi, he should take all his people and leave South Africa. We will discriminate against you publicly now."
One of the spouses was dressed in traditional Zulu attire, which Mchunu took great issue with, directing slurs at the man.
He said, "Imvunulo (traditional Zulu attire) is the pride of the ethnic group. We don't even want remuneration from that gay man. We wish a plague upon him. He deserves to be arrested or a talking to." Mchunu insisted that the traditional wear is reserved exclusively for Zulu royalty.
In a statement, UDM acting secretary general Zandile Phiri said the party was “outraged and disturbed” by Mchunu’s remarks, which she said amounted to hate speech and incitement. Phiri highlighted the timing of the video during Pride Month, a period dedicated to celebrating inclusion and dignity.
“This was not a moment of ignorance; it was a deliberate, calculated expression of discrimination and what appears to be no less than incitement,” Phiri said. “We must say this clearly: These remarks amount to prima facie hate speech. They appear to constitute incitement and an abuse of influence.”
Phiri warned that Mchunu’s words were not protected under freedom of expression. “What he is doing now is not entertainment. It is not culture. It is not ‘just an opinion.’ It is a threat to lives,” she said.
The UDM called on the SAHRC to urgently investigate Mchunu’s statements and for law enforcement agencies to consider prosecution under South Africa’s hate speech and anti-discrimination laws.
In a formal complaint addressed to the SAHRC on Wednesday, UDM member and human rights activist Mxolisi Makhubu accused Mchunu of directly attacking queer South Africans and fuelling a dangerous climate of violence, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal.
“The fact that his original post has been taken down does not absolve him of responsibility, nor does it erase the immense damage already caused by his conduct,” Makhubu said. “Once words of violence are released, they cannot be recalled, and the climate of fear they create remains long after deletion.”
Makhubu pointed to Mchunu’s rhetoric as an attempt to “displace queer people from their culture,” adding that his remarks “fall squarely within the definition of hate speech and incitement to violence under South African law.”
The complaint references key legislation, including the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (PEPUDA) and the recently enacted Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Act, signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa in May 2024.
Makhubu argued that Mchunu’s words meet the threshold for prosecution, given that they incited calls for violence and execution against queer individuals.
He also drew attention to the worrying increase in violence against LGBTQIA+ people, with at least 20 queer individuals murdered in KwaZulu-Natal between 2021 and 2023.
“To allow public figures such as Mr. Mchunu to fuel this violence with impunity is to embolden killers and to sanction further bloodshed,” he said.
Makhubu criticised political actors who have failed to condemn the rhetoric, accusing them of exploiting bigotry for political gain and further endangering vulnerable communities.
Phiri urged South Africans across society to stand firmly against hate. “Silence is complicity. Neutrality in the face of hate is siding with the oppressor,” she said.
“To the LGBTQIA+ community: You are seen. You are valued. You belong. Your existence is not up for debate. Your right to live free from fear is non-negotiable.”
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